Brooklyn, NY (BlackNews.com) — The Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation has announced that they are now accepting applications for their 2014 scholarship program. The foundation, established by rapper Jay-Z and his mom Gloria Carter, aims to enhance the lives of young people.

The foundation is unique because it offers scholarships to single mothers, children who attend alternative schools, students who have earned only a GED, students with grade point averages of 2.0, and students who have previously been incarcerated, etc. The students, however, must demonstrate a strong desire to pursue higher education.

In 2013, 176 scholarship recipients were selected and 70% of them had household incomes below $40,000. In addition, 74% of them came from single parent homes, and 58% are first-generation college students.

The program provides individual grants ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 to every student who qualifies and re-applies each year, from admission to graduation. The scholarship grant can be used to pay for tuition, books, lab fees, travel and certain costs of living.

Those who qualify to apply include all high school seniors, undergraduate (2-year or 4-year) college students, and even students at vocational/ trade schools. All applicants must also be U.S. citizens, 25 years old or younger, and have a minimum GPA of 2.0.

In addition, all Shawn Carter Scholars are required to “give back” by conducting community service and by serving as mentors to younger, aspiring Shawn Carter Scholars. In fact, one of the key questions asked by the foundation when students apply for the scholarship is: “What are your plans to give back to the community?”